Copy number alteration (CNA) profiling of human tumors has revealed recurrent patterns of DNA amplifications and deletions across diverse cancer types. These patterns are suggestive of conserved selection pressures during tumor evolution but cannot be fully explained by known oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Using a pan‐cancer analysis of CNA data from patient tumors and experimental systems, here we show that principal component analysis‐defined CNA signatures are predictive of glycolytic phenotypes, including 18F‐fluorodeoxy‐glucose (FDG) avidity of patient tumors, and increased proliferation. The primary CNA signature is enriched for p53 mutations and is associated with glycolysis through coordinate amplification of glycolytic genes and other cancer‐linked metabolic enzymes. A pan‐cancer and cross‐species comparison of CNAs highlighted 26 consistently altered DNA regions, containing 11 enzymes in the glycolysis pathway in addition to known cancer‐driving genes. Furthermore, exogenous expression of hexokinase and enolase enzymes in an experimental immortalization system altered the subsequent copy number status of the corresponding endogenous loci, supporting the hypothesis that these metabolic genes act as drivers within the conserved CNA amplification regions. Taken together, these results demonstrate that metabolic stress acts as a selective pressure underlying the recurrent CNAs observed in human tumors, and further cast genomic instability as an enabling event in tumorigenesis and metabolic evolution.
Purpose
Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) such a transcranial magnetic stimulation, intermittent theta burst stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy have emerged as an efficacious and well-tolerated therapy for treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. While novel NIBS techniques are an exciting addition to the current repertoire of neuropsychiatric therapies, their success is somewhat limited by the wide range of treatment responses seen among treated patients.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the authors will review the studies on relevant genetic polymorphisms and discuss the role of RNA genotyping in personalizing NIBS.
Findings
Genome studies have revealed several genetic polymorphisms that may contribute for the heterogeneity of treatment response to NIBS where the presence of certain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with responders versus nonresponders.
Originality/value
Historically, mental illnesses have been arguably some of the most challenging disorders to study and to treat because of the degree of biological variability across affected individuals, the role of genetic and epigenetic modifications, the diversity of clinical symptomatology and presentations and the interplay with environmental factors. In lieu of these challenges, there has been a push for personalized medicine in psychiatry that aims to optimize treatment response based on one’s unique characteristics.
144 Background: Nationwide surveys of residents including those in oncologic specialties reveal that trainees perceive their palliative and supportive care (PSC) educational curriculum as inadequate. For residents, PSC education varies from none at all to an organized department lecture series given by Palliative Medicine physicians. There have been no published experiences of institutional wide PSC lecture series open to all residents, fellows, and medical students. Methods: We piloted a monthly palliative care lecture series from August 2016 to June 2017 at UC Irvine. 12 physicians from 9 clinical departments provided monthly lectures on management of physical symptoms, psychosocial issues, cultural considerations, spiritual needs, care coordination, ethical/legal issues, communication/goals of care, and advance care planning. Lectures were advertised in advance to program directors and emails were sent the week prior to all trainees. At the end of each lecture, attendees were given a voluntary survey that consisted of 10 questions on self-perceived competency in PSC skills and 4 questions on attitudes toward PSC. Results: 143 (45 medical students, 98 residents) responses were received. Most residents (90.8%) and medical students (84.4%) viewed palliative care as an important competency. Only 16 responses from heme/onc, radiation, and gynecology oncology residents and fellows were received, comprising 11.2% of total responses. Residents characterized themselves as “not at all/minimally/somewhat confident” in their ability to care for patients with PSC issues in the following areas: management of opioids (44.2%), fatigue (82.7%), anorexia (79.6%), depression (65.3%), and prognostication (75.5%) Medical students characterized themselves as “not at all/minimally/somewhat confident” in the following areas: management of opioids (79.3%), fatigue (86.7%), anorexia (91.1%), depression (71.1%), and prognostication (91.1%). Conclusions: These findings suggest a need to further improve domains of palliative care training in residency programs and identify innovative ways to increase participation of residents and fellows from all oncologic specialties.
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